That's because, the DNC argues, many states — including Arizona, Illinois and Michigan — have rules that candidates or their campaigns be the ones collecting ballot signatures, meaning Kennedy's campaign will have to violate federal rules to meet state requirements. “They simply cannot comply with federal law and state law at the same time,” DNC legal counsel Bob Lenhard said on a conference call with reporters. Tim Mellon, a major donor to Donald Trump, gave American Values $15 million last year, according to federal filings. In December, a campaign watchdog group filed a complaint alleging that Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Republican Ron DeSantis, was coordinating too closely with the Florida governor's since-suspended presidential campaign. But Linhart said the DNC took the unusual step of filing a complaint against Kennedy itself because what was occurring was “striking” and “dramatic” given that some states mandate candidates or their campaigns collect ballot signatures.

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Persons: Robert Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Bob Lenhard, Tim Mellon, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, ” Tony Lyons, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Linhart, ” Linhart Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democratic National Committee, Federal Elections Commission, White, Super PAC, DNC, RFK Jr, Biden, Democratic, Trump, Florida Locations: Arizona , Illinois, Michigan